4 ms·

I thought the colon should be a comma instead. It misled me to thinking Google was unhappy about people telling lies about them.

jnbiche 8y ago
Actually, the author's use of the colon is correct, and your interpretation doesn't accord with the usual rules of grammar for colon usage. What I assume you're thinking of is the journalistic use of a colon as shorthand for attribution, normally used in headlines. In that case, the colon and person/organization fall at the end of the sentence. So you'll see things like, "We'll never pass upcoming bill: Rep Smith". But that's not what the author of the blog post wrote. Instead, he placed "Google" at the beginning of the sentence, writing "Google: Please Stop...". As such, he used the colon in accordance with one of its most common usages--as a means of address in correspondence, similar to common letter opening "Dear Mr. Smith: Please find enclosed...".
- greenyoda 8y ago
  Also, the pronoun "me" is generally used to refer to a person, not a corporation. So there doesn't seem to be any ambiguity about the meaning of the title.
- mattmcknight 8y ago
  The colon is also used at the beginning of the phrase in the sense of identifying the speaker in plays. When used in a letter it is commonly preceded by a salutation, as in your "Dear Mr Smith:" example.
- jolmg 8y ago
  Actually, putting the attribution at the beginning is how transcripts are usually done. You can see it in articles that are mainly the transcript of an interview[1], or even in court transcripts[2]. > similar to common letter opening "Dear Mr. Smith: Please find enclosed...". It's been some time since I've written a letter, but I remember that the typical format uses a comma and not a colon. For example: Dear Mr. Smith, Please find enclosed... This[3] could be an example. [1] - https://techcrunch.com/2006/09/02/an-interview-with-vc-paul-graham-of-ycombinator/ https://techcrunch.com/2006/09/02/an-interview-with-vc-paul-... [2] - https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-532_32q3.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcr... [3] - https://www.fotolip.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/How-to-Write-a-Resignation-Letter-15.png https://www.fotolip.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/How-to-Wr...
  - jnbiche 8y ago
    Yes, but this is clearly a headline, not a transcript. And using a colon in a salutation is recommended for business usage according to most style manuals. Traditionally, style manuals discourage letter writers from using a comma unless they are friendly with the recipient.
- FVIIIvWF 8y ago
  Ah, thanks for the detailed explanation, I definitely needed a grammar revision.

jnbiche 8y ago

Actually, the author's use of the colon is correct, and your interpretation doesn't accord with the usual rules of grammar for colon usage. What I assume you're thinking of is the journalistic use of a colon as shorthand for attribution, normally used in headlines. In that case, the colon and person/organization fall at the end of the sentence. So you'll see things like, "We'll never pass upcoming bill: Rep Smith". But that's not what the author of the blog post wrote. Instead, he placed "Google" at the beginning of the sentence, writing "Google: Please Stop...". As such, he used the colon in accordance with one of its most common usages--as a means of address in correspondence, similar to common letter opening "Dear Mr. Smith: Please find enclosed...".

greenyoda 8y ago
Also, the pronoun "me" is generally used to refer to a person, not a corporation. So there doesn't seem to be any ambiguity about the meaning of the title.
mattmcknight 8y ago
The colon is also used at the beginning of the phrase in the sense of identifying the speaker in plays. When used in a letter it is commonly preceded by a salutation, as in your "Dear Mr Smith:" example.
jolmg 8y ago
Actually, putting the attribution at the beginning is how transcripts are usually done. You can see it in articles that are mainly the transcript of an interview[1], or even in court transcripts[2]. > similar to common letter opening "Dear Mr. Smith: Please find enclosed...". It's been some time since I've written a letter, but I remember that the typical format uses a comma and not a colon. For example: Dear Mr. Smith, Please find enclosed... This[3] could be an example. [1] - https://techcrunch.com/2006/09/02/an-interview-with-vc-paul-graham-of-ycombinator/ https://techcrunch.com/2006/09/02/an-interview-with-vc-paul-... [2] - https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-532_32q3.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcr... [3] - https://www.fotolip.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/How-to-Write-a-Resignation-Letter-15.png https://www.fotolip.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/How-to-Wr...
- jnbiche 8y ago
  Yes, but this is clearly a headline, not a transcript. And using a colon in a salutation is recommended for business usage according to most style manuals. Traditionally, style manuals discourage letter writers from using a comma unless they are friendly with the recipient.
FVIIIvWF 8y ago
Ah, thanks for the detailed explanation, I definitely needed a grammar revision.